From Drip to Drop

HomeFrom Drip to Drop
 

The Water Journey

The Suffolk County Water Authority manages your drinking water from the aquifer to your tap. We prioritize safety, reliability and infrastructure maintenance. Explore the stages of water delivery below.

 
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Origin
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Treatment
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Analysis
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Distribution
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Measurement
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End Use

Stage 1: Origin & The Water Cycle

Drinking water on Long Island comes entirely from underground geological formations known as aquifers. These deep, saturated layers of sand and gravel act as a massive natural filter. Interact with the pulsing icons below to explore.

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Precipitation

Rain and snow provide massive amounts of water. As it falls, some evaporates, some is absorbed by plants, but the majority infiltrates the sandy soil to recharge the groundwater system.

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Condensation

As warm air rises and cools, water vapor condenses into tiny droplets, forming clouds.

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Upper Glacial
43% of Wells

The shallowest layer containing the youngest water. Because it is closest to the surface, it is the most vulnerable to human contamination.

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Magothy Aquifer
56% of Wells

The largest and most crucial formation for Long Island's drinking water. It holds massive quantities of water that is often hundreds of years old.

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Lloyd Aquifer
1% of Wells

The deepest layer, resting on solid bedrock. It contains water held for over 5,000 years and is largely kept untapped by law to preserve it for coastal communities.

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Extraction

Public wells safely extract water from deep below ground. As a region, we pump significantly less than the Earth naturally recharges every year.

L.I. SOUND ATLANTIC OCEAN EVAPORATION EVAPORATION RUNOFF PRECIPITATION INFILTRATION UPPER GLACIAL AQUIFER MAGOTHY AQUIFER LLOYD AQUIFER BEDROCK SURFACE RUNOFF Flows into local waterways 400 BILLION GALLONS Annual Natural Precipitation Recharge 200 BILLION GALLONS Pumped Annually (80B by SCWA)

Stage 2: The Treatment Process

Water goes through rigorous testing, disinfection, and—when needed—advanced filtration to ensure the highest quality before reaching your tap. Hover over or click the equipment below to reveal the internal mechanics of the process.

EXTRACTION LAB TESTING CHLORINE & pH ADVANCED TREATMENT VESSELS HIGH QUALITY WATER
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Step 1
Extraction

Raw water is pumped from the deep aquifer beneath Long Island to a treatment facility.

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Step 2
Detection

Our laboratory analyzes the sample. If trace amounts of contaminants are detected, the water is flagged for advanced treatment.

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Step 3
Disinfection & pH

Water is treated with chlorine to protect against bacteria and pH balanced to prevent home pipe corrosion.

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Step 4
Advanced Filtration

About 2/3rds of SCWA wells have water quality so good they bypass this step. For the rest, filtration vessels safely remove trace contaminants.

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Step 5
Safe Delivery

Post-treatment testing confirms all health standards are met before the high quality water is finally sent to your tap.

Stage 3: Advanced Laboratory Analysis

Before water ever reaches the distribution network, it must pass through one of the most advanced water testing laboratories in the United States. We test for 390 distinct compounds—about 240 more than required by law. We test far more frequently than regulations mandate, and our internal quality standards are significantly more stringent than state or federal rules. Hover over or click the lab equipment below to see our testing in action.

SAMPLING SCWA ANALYSIS ADVANCED TESTING PPT: 2.4 STATUS: TRACE DATA REVIEW
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Step 1
Sample Collection

Technicians continuously pull physical water samples from raw aquifer wells, active treatment vessels, and street-level sample stations.

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Step 2
Advanced Instrumentation

Our scientists utilize a diverse array of highly sensitive analytical equipment to test for hundreds of compounds, detecting microscopic contaminants down to 2 parts-per-trillion.

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Step 3
Rigorous Standards

We test water far more frequently than regulations demand. Scientists review this continuous data against our strict internal limits to ensure unparalleled water quality.

Stage 4: Distribution Infrastructure

Treated water travels through the SCWA underground main network. Hover over the suburban street cross-section below to operate hydrants, open sample stations, and deploy SCWA utility crews to fix active leaks.

HYDRANT SAMPLE STATION MAIN LEAK SCWA REPAIR ACTIVE
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Feature 1
Fire Hydrants

SCWA maintains over 38,000 fire hydrants across our service territory, ensuring critical water pressure is available for community safety and emergency response.

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Feature 2
Sample Stations

We operate 300 dedicated sample stations where technicians pull water to confirm (for a third time!) that our treatment has been effective.

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Feature 3
24/7 Leak Repair

SCWA is responding to leaks and breaks 24/7 in all weather conditions. This ensures community safety and the delivery of high quality water.

Stage 5: Delivery & Measurement

Water travels from the main service line into your property's plumbing system. SCWA utilizes advanced metering infrastructure to record your usage securely and accurately. Hover over or click the equipment below to explore the process.

WATER SUPPLY CCF ERT
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Step 1
Passive Flow

Water flows from the street main into your property's plumbing system through the supply line.

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Step 2
The Meter

As water passes through, it physically turns a measuring element inside the meter to record your consumption.

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Step 3
The ERT

The transmitter reads the meter's internal register and broadcasts consumption data to passing collection vehicles for accurate billing.

Stage 6: High Quality Delivery

The final stage of the water cycle is your everyday life. SCWA delivers pure, tested water directly to your plumbing system for consumption, hygiene, and household maintenance. Hover over or click the areas of the home below to see your water in action.

HEATER CAR WASH BATHING DRINKING LAUNDRY LAWN CARE
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Usage 1
Drinking Water

Treated and rigorously tested, water arrives at your tap completely safe for drinking and cooking.

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Usage 2
Bathing

Reliable pressure and pH-balanced water ensures safe and comfortable daily hygiene for your household.

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Usage 3
Laundry

Consistent delivery powers everyday chores. Upgrading to high-efficiency appliances helps conserve massive amounts of water.

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Usage 4
Lawn Care

Irrigation is the largest draw on our system. Remember to follow the Odd/Even watering schedule to protect aquifer levels!

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Usage 5
Car Washing

For outdoor tasks, always use a hose nozzle with an automatic shut-off to prevent unnecessary water waste down the driveway.